Chinese university closely linked to the country's defense sector recently purchased advanced artificial intelligence chips produced by the American giant NVIDIA, according to purchase announcements, despite strict export controls imposed by Washington.
China and the United States are engaged in intense competition for leadership in the field of artificial intelligence, which is of strategic importance and witnessing rapid growth, while Nvidia's advanced products have become the subject of a major dispute between them.
Northwestern Polytechnic University in Xi'an purchased two H200 chips from Shaanxi Busuan Network Technology Company, not directly from Nvidia, for 874,700 yuan ($131,200), according to a purchase announcement dated October 21.
H200 chips are subject to US export controls that restrict their shipment directly to China and impose certain restrictions on their resale around the world.
The two chips were purchased for the university's College of Management, one of the Chinese universities known as the "Seven Sons of National Defence", which is charged with conducting defense-related research and maintaining links with the military. The purchase announcement, which AFP saw, was no longer available on the university’s website on Thursday.
Another purchase announcement dated September 4, seen by Agence France-Presse and also no longer available on Thursday, showed that the university’s cybersecurity college purchased two H200 chips for 796,000 yuan ($119,300).
Agence France-Presse contacted the university’s faculties of management and cybersecurity to obtain a comment.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a press briefing on Thursday that she “has not received information” regarding this issue.
She added, "We strongly oppose the American side's use of the concept of national security loosely, its continued preparation of discriminatory lists, and its suppression of Chinese institutions without any basis."
Nvidia is in the spotlight this week due to its ties to China, after reports indicated that its CEO had an extramarital relationship with a woman accused of spying for Beijing.
Huang, who has a close relationship with US President Donald Trump, publicly acknowledged his relationship with Alice Huang, an executive at the MegaSpeed Data Center based in Singapore.
Later, authorities in Taiwan reported that Alice Huang entered the island eight times between 2024 and 2025.
Chiu Chui-cheng, minister in charge of the Mainland Affairs Council, said Alice Huang used a Hong Kong passport to enter Taiwan for ordinary business purposes.
He explained that records documented her entry three times in 2024 and five times in 2025, without recording any entry this year.
The New York Times reported that the United States had advised Taiwan since 2024 to monitor Alice Huang's movements.
"At the very least, in the Mainland Affairs Council, we have not received any information on this matter," Qiu said, adding, "If that had happened, we would have strengthened entry control and border crossing management."
Taiwanese Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang said on Wednesday that “Ms. Huang’s permit has been cancelled, which means that it is impossible for her to return to Taiwan,” after suspicions were raised about her.
NVIDIA's board of directors is scheduled to meet to discuss the future of its CEO, according to American media.
NVIDIA
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